Are you handy too?

I got a flat on my bike yesterday, and called a buddy of mine while I was walking home to kill time. He happens to be gay too. While I was explaining the situation, he asked if I were near a bike shop to get it fixed. I laughed at the idea because it only takes 5-10 minutes to change a flat, but he admitted he had never done such a thing.

Maybe I'm different because my dad taught me how to change a flat, the oil in your car, etc... but I just always assumed everyone else out there does that stuff too. So my question to you is how handy are you, and what won't you deal with? Personally, if it won't kill me, i.e. anything with electricity, I'll probably make an attempt to fix the thing myself before I call in a professional.

I will give most things a shot, and as someone who has spent the last year working on his house I have done a lot and would rather learn to do something than pay someone else. Like you, I hate working with electricity but typically will do it. I also hate plumbing and floating drywall.

I'm not very good with car maintenance...i can check tire pressure and add coolant, that's about it...but I am pretty good around the house and yard. I have no problems starting a home renovation project...I exhaust all resources before I call in the professionals.

Having grown up in a rural state, I was expected to learn to be self-sufficient in most things from a young age. With the technology on today's vehicles though, I do bring the new one to the shop for most servicing. Only house projects I won't do is most anything dealing with electricity. I've seen a friend thrown 3 feet back while trying to re-wire something, and don't want that to happen to me.

I always try to fix stuff and even do things around the house myself before taking it to a pro, unless it's too complicated for me or I don't have the right tools. But I have to teach myself most things because my parents are from countries where you always pay someone to do menial tasks. Even doing your own laundry is below you unless its your job...

I am not handy at all. In fact, my interior designer husband bars me from touching tools...it seems that every time I do, something else falls apart. He, on the other hand, can fix most everything around the house. Neither one of us touch the cars.

there is precious little that i won't attempt to do myself, and pop my bubble, but i think i'm pretty good at a lot of it. i do all the fixing of things from our own household to our friends. from sewing needles to leather needles, pipe wrenches to SAE wrenches, welding gloves to yard gloves, 240vac wiring to SMD wiring, from software to soft cookies, plaster work with molds to wood work.

It blows guys away that I can do a lot of stuff for myself. I grew up with live-in help and I swore when I got old enough to have my own houses, I'd try to have small enough houses so that I could take care of them without the intrusion of live-in help. It is good to know how to do things yourself. I can do a lot of the work around the grounds outside too. I also can do a lot of the work on my own cars. I can iron, scrub, polish until a house screams. I like it - consider it therapy or a work out!

I'm very handy, can fix lots of things. I'm the gay guy our lesbian friends call when they can't fix it themselves... LOL!

During my "contrary years" I went to a vo-tech school for over a year and became a certified master automobile mechanic. Then promptly enlisted to be an Army mechanic, serving as a motor sergeant for a few years before taking a commission as an officer in the military police corps.

But I never stopped working on cars, motorcycles, and almost anything mechanical or simple electrical (no more Army tanks, though!). I actually enjoy the intellectual challenge of figuring out why a thing's not operating properly and then fixing it, even if I've never worked on something like it before.

I know a fair number of gay/bi guys who are pretty handy but then I worked at Home Depot for nearly 10 years as one of their design pros, so maybe I crossed paths more with the handy guys.

Maybe too this is more a rural state, so whether you like guys or not, you're more likely to fix stuff. Everyone in my family pretty much fixes stuff. Think it was my mom who taught me how to change a tire the first time (good physics lesson too: how does a 110# little lady get a cinched down lug nut off: socket wrench and a galvanized pipe cheater bar).

Built my own mtn bike this fall and the bike shop guys said I only jacked up one minor thing. Rebuilt my bath (demo'd old tub, partial replumb tho' w/ pex it's really easy, new wiring) but wimped out on the sheetrock and tile.

Sorry long answer but then I'm part Irish: why use 2 words when you can use 10?

Have to admit I know human anatomy and physiology, surgery, traumatology + anything related to meds and healthcare much better than things like motors, electronics, computers or bikes....can fix a flat, though. That's why I hired a handyman to do all the works considering painting, electronic works and drillings now that I moved to a bigger apartment. Kinda embarrassing....he's 24, hot as hell (I could ask if i may take a pic of him for u guys to admire, if u want) and talks about sex all the time.....(he knows I'm gay) AND prefers working shirtless (hoping for better tips?). But he gets the work done properly plus I get some eye-candy and flashes of his perfect smile.....I decided that I won't make the first move, if he decides to go further than just innocent flirting......I'm taken, and I love my Appalacchian man! + I'm a faithful kinda guy.

TomiR1 saidHave to admit I know human anatomy and physiology, surgery, traumatology + anything related to meds and healthcare much better than things like motors, electronics, computers or bikes....can fix a flat, though. That's why I hired a handyman to do all the works considering painting, electronic works and drillings now that I moved to a bigger apartment. Kinda embarrassing....he's 24, hot as hell (I could ask if i may take a pic of him for u guys to admire, if u want) and talks about sex all the time.....(he knows I'm gay) AND prefers working shirtless (hoping for better tips?). But he gets the work done properly plus I get some eye-candy and flashes of his perfect smile.....I decided that I won't make the first move, if he decides to go further than just innocent flirting......I'm taken, and I love my Appalacchian man! + I'm a faithful kinda guy.

I could probably do most of the stuff that hired guy can, but I might "pretend" I couldn't if it meant getting to watch a shirtless hottie sweat in my living room

Growing up on a farm, I'm pretty handy. I just had my first flat tire (ever) last week and I got that changed in short order. I'm not afraid to try some light electrical and plumbing around the house. I find most gay guys are handy; stereotypes don't always apply.

Same way, Calibro. I used to do all my car service myself. I've changed flat tires (and taught a lesbian how to -- she wanted to be more handy), replaced alternators, even given an old car a tune up. But, now I pay for servicing because I can afford it. But, if I need to, there are many things I could still do myself.